Peer Mentor Program
The Peer Mentor Program connects students with returning students who serve as mentors. Protégés (mentees) receive guidance on navigating the transition to college life through a combination of individual mentor meetings, group mentorship via the weekly OHANA Program, and regular academic support through virtual communications.
Protégés
If you're a first-year or transfer student, we invite you to request a mentor for the upcoming academic year.
Mentors
If you're a returning student who has a sincere desire to help first-year and transfer students transition to college life, we invite you to apply to be a mentor or a peer academic coach (PAC) for the upcoming academic year.
Peer Academic Coaches
We're also seeking undergraduate and graduate students to serve as peer academic coaches (PAC). This role involves mentoring students and fulfilling other duties, depending on which PAC position you choose, for approximately 10 hours per week. PAC positions are paid and receive internship credit through the career center.
You must be an NIU student with the following abilities/characteristics:
- Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
- Leadership and communication skills
- Sensitivity and ability to work with diverse populations
- Ability to develop and maintain effective relationships
- Experience with student organizations, campus resources and cultural engagement (preferred)
Applications are accepted until positions are filled. Work study is preferred.
Contact mbringas@niu.edu or ccarpio1@niu.edu for more information.
Available PAC Positions
- OHANA! Program Coordinator PAC: The OHANA Program Coordinator PAC is responsible for assisting with the planning, organizing, and executing of weekly OHANA! Nights (Tuesdays at 5 p.m.) that celebrates the diverse Asian and Asian American culture at Northern Illinois University through educational and cultural programming.
- Huskie Academic Success Center PAC: The Peer Academic Coach position will help students develop goal setting and learning skills in various forums. Peer Academic Coaches (PACs) play a crucial role in assisting students in their academic pursuits by providing guidance, resources, and support services.
- Student Experiential Programming PAC: The Student Experiential Programming Peer Academic Coach plays a pivotal role in planning, coordinating, and executing cultural experiential and co-curricular activities that promotes and educates students on the Asian and Asian American topics.
- Leadership PAC: The Leadership Peer Academic Coach will help plan, coordinate, and execute monthly leadership meetings for student organizations around topics that promote leadership and professional development.
- Peer Mentor Coordinator PAC: The Peer Mentor Coordinator PAC is responsible for coordinating and supporting the peer mentorship program for the Asian American Resource Center.
- Student Assessment PAC: The Student Assessment Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the assessment and evaluation processes at the Asian American Resource Center. This position works to collect, analyze, and report data that measures academic learning, achievement of student learning objectives, informs educational improvements and student success initiatives through the AARC.
Peer Academic Coach Duties
- Front Office Support: Assist with various departmental tasks including clerical work, event support, and customer service while maintaining a professional and reliable presence. Perform duties under staff supervision to gain practical experience and contribute to the smooth operation of campus services.
- Event planning: includes collaborating with campus departments and student organizations to plan events focused on academic support, cultural education, career readiness, self-care and community-building
- Marketing: involves designing flyers, PowerPoint presentations and other marketing materials; includes working independently and with a team (knowledge of Photoshop and other software required)
- Documentation and Record-Keeping: Maintain organized records of assessment data, reports, and documentation for reference and future analysis.
- Student ambassadors: includes staffing information tables at campus events (Welcome Week, Asian American Welcome Night, orientations, Study Abroad events, etc.) and recruiting students to assist with outreach efforts
Contact Us
Asian American Resource Center375 Wirtz Drive
asianamericancenter@niu.edu
Office Hours
Monday-Friday
8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
(closed from noon-1 p.m.)